Slow-speed-rotation facilitator for sprinkler heads



May s, 1928.

W. A. BUCKNER SLOW SPEED ROTATION FACILITATOR FOR SPRINKLER HEADS FiledSent. 18. 1926 Ema l v IN VEN TOR. W772 ;A. B u ckn er ATTORNEY PatentedMay 8, 1928.

[PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BUCKNER, F FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

SLOW-SPEED-IROTATION FACILITATOR FOR SPRINKLER HEADS.

' Application filed September 18, 1926. Serial No. 136,260.

This invention relates to improvements in irrigators, particularly ofthat type used for surface irrigation' The particular device covered bythis application is a revolv ing sprinkler head used for surfaceirrigation of all kinds, particularly on extensive lawn surfaces, suchas golf courses and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a control for rotaryirrigating beads by which a positive slow speed rotation may be impartedto the rotary head in order to irrigate in as great a radius as possibleand with the greatest economy.

. A further object is to provide a rotating head which will be withoutleaks and form no puddles around the rotating head and which willprovide the positive action desired without a complication of gears orother operating mechanism.

lhese objects l accomplish by having a simple full floating rotary headwith extending arms provided with discharge nozzles set at an angle tothe horizon, so as to impart a very slight reactive rotary motion to thehead. This rotary motion is maintained and controlled by a vibratingelement which keeps the head in an unsteady position and prevents itfrom binding or setting in any fixed position which would prevent therotation thereof under the reaction of the water discharging through thedischarge nozzle.

dill

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of one type of my improved rotary headshowing the vibrating element." v

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross section of the vibratingelement.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section-of the vibrating element takenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. p

Fig. 4: is a vertical section through the free floating bearing for therotary sprinkler head.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference, thenumeral 1 designates the support for the sprinkler head which may be ofany suitable stationary or transportable type. port is the water supplypipe 2 on the upper end of which is the rotatable head which Mounted onthis sup may be of any desired type, but which for the purpose of thisdescription is shown as a full floating head constructed substantiallyas follows:

On the upper end of the pipe 2 is mounted a bearing sleeve 3 havindischarge outlets 4 near its upper end. i pin 5 projects upwardly fromthe sleeve 3 and is slidable through a sleeve 6 011a cage 7 surroundingthe discharge outlets 4, the lower side of the .cage surrounding thesleeve 3 in sliding re lation and being made water-tight by means of apacking nut 8. Surrounding the pin 5 above the sleeve 6 are washers 9and 10 mounted in spaced relation, and between these washers is disposeda yieldable spring 11, the Whole being enclosed by a suitable cap 12.Pipes 13 and 14 communicate with the cage 7 and are provided withdischarge nozzles 15 and 16 respectively. In practice the force of thewater passing through the pipe 2, sleeve 3 and discharge outlets a:raises the cage 7 on the bearing sleeve 3 and pin 5 until the action ofthe spring 11 and the water pressure are equalized, which provides afull floating head for the sprinkler,

which will rotate in floating position under the reaction of the waterdischarging through the nozzles 15 and 16 when the latter are set at anangle to the horizon as shown. 7

In practice these nozzles are set at just such an angle as to set up avery slight rotary motion of the head and this rotarymotionisfacilitated by maintaining the head in a state Lot vibration oragitation by means of a vibratory element set into on of the dischargepipes.

In the present invention this vibratory element comprises a speciallyconstructed sprinkler element which in addition to setting up thevibration desired,also sprinkles the water in a radius close to thesprinkler head, as is necessary in a sprinkler of this type in orderthat the complete area around A trough-like member 18 is mounted on themember 17 so that such member 17 discharges substantially centrally intothe trough. Upwardly extending flanges 19 are mounted on the end wallsof the trotwh and support bearing pins 20 on a vertlcal ly suspendedplate or vane 21 which sets vertically-above the center line of theinlet from the ipe 17.

Tile plate 21 above the pivotal pins 20 s provided with side flanges 22and with d1- verging end flanges 23 at its upper end.

In practice when the water is discharged through the sprinkler head apart of the' water discharges through the ipe 17' and the stream ofwater passing t erethrough under pressure will impinge against the underface of the vane 21, and the stream Wlll be slightly deflected followingthe face of said vane, and upon reaching that part of the vane abovethebearing pins 20 the force of the stream will tilt the vane in the oppdsite direction. It will then be met on the other side by the same forceof water and it will immediately swing back again so that there will bea constant back and forth motion of such vane. With this back and forthmotion the lower end of the vane 21 will constantly strike the sides 18of the trough-like member 18 and set up a constant vibration on theentire sprinkler head. This vibration will keep the head in an unsteadyposition and prevent it from binding or .coming to a stop in any oneposition so that the slow speed rotarymotion set up by the reaction ofthe water dischargin rom the inclined discharge nozzles 15 wil bemaintained.

One of the main features of the construction of the vibratory sprinklermember just described is the trough-like member 18 surrounding the lowerend 21, inasmuch as this structure prevents leakage and puddling aroundthe sprinkler head, which is a very objectionable feature, particularlywhere sprinkler heads are used on golf courses or like places. If thistrough-like element were not used the discharge of the water from thepipe 17 striking against the sides of the I vane 21 splits the stream ofwater as the vane passes from side to side, which would cause a leakageor drip off of the vane .first on one side and then on the other. Thisdrip is so pronounced that it would cause a heavy puddling around thesprinkler which would.

ruin the commercial value of the same due to puddling.

By providing the trough-like structure on each s1de of the lower endofthe vane this drip falls into the trough. The water then passing throughthe outlet from the pipe 17 into the trough, which is below the topedges of the sides l8" of the trough, forms an ejector which sucksupvthe, water in the trough and carries it upward with the stream, and

thus carries away this leakage or drippin without causing the same topuddle aroun the sprinkler.

While I have shown the type of full floating head specifically describedherein, nevertheless the same rotary motion and vibratory motiondescribed could be maintained with other forms of heads, hence I do notwish to be understood as confining the use of rpy invention to thisparticular type of hea From the foregoing description it will be readilyseen that I ave produced such a device as substantially fulfills the obects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as. i

do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described ineluding a rotatable sprinklerhead and a member to keep the head in a state of vibration, such memberincluding an oscillating vane, means whereby a stream of waterdischarged from the sprinkler will oscillate the vane, and means forlimiting the oscillation of the vane, such latter means comprising atrough-like base into which the lower end of the vane projects wherebywith the oscillation'of the vane it will strike the sides of the trough.

2. A device of the character described ineluding a rotatable sprinklerhead and a" member to keep the head in a state of vibration, such memberincluding an oscillating vane, means whereby a stream of waterdischarged from the s rinkler will oscillate the vane, and means fbrlimiting the oscillation of the vane, such latter means comprising atrough-like basev into which the lower end of the vane projects wherebywith the oscillation of the vane it will strike the sides of the trough,the stream being adapted to discharge into the bottom of the trou hbelow the top edges of the sides thereo 3. A device of the characterdescribed comprising a rotatable sprinkler head hav-v ing latera lyprojecting discharge pipes and nozzles adjacent the outer ends thereof,one of said pipes having an intermediate nozzle, and an oscillating vanehaving its axis intersecting the axis of the latter noz'zle, said vaneadapted to be oscillated by the stream from such'nozzle.

4. A device of the character described of said pipes having'anintermediate nozzle,

an oscillating vane having its axis intersecting the axis of the latternozzle, said vane adapted to be oscillated by the stream from suchnozzle, and means to limit the oscillation of such vane.

5. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable sprinklerhead having laterally projecting discharge pipes and nozzles adjacentthe outer ends thereof, one of said pipes having .an intermediatenozzle, an oscillating vane having its axis intersecting the axis of thelatter nozzle, said vane adapted to be oscillated by the stream fromsuch'nozzle, and means to limit the oscillation of such vane, such meansincluding a trough-like base surrounding the nozzle, the vane projectinginto the trough whereby with the oscillation of the vane it will strikethe sides of the trough.

6. A vibrating element for connection with a nozzle of a rotatingsprinkler head including a trough-like base having a central bottomorifice to fit the nozzle and a pivoted vane supported upward from thebase and having its axis intersecting the axis of the orifice, the lowerend of the vane projecting into the trough-like base.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM A. BUCKNER.

